Indefinite hunger strike by PGI contract workers enters fourth day

Union leaders claim that no medical team was sent to examine them for the last three days, and they complained to the administration. Subsequently, they were medically examined by health workers from GMSH-16 at around 4 pm on Saturday. The JAC has clarified that if no decision is taken on the contract workers’ pending and legitimate demands by December 22, all contract workers will hold a day-long strike and protest on December 23.

The union stated that on August 12, the PGIMER management had given a written assurance to pay the pending revised wages effective January 13, 2024, but this has not yet been implemented. The union also stated that approximately Rs 90-crore worth of dues of contract workers have been pending for a long time. Furthermore, a complaint filed by the JAC on September 18, regarding violations of Section 6(2) of the Haryana ESMA, 1974, and a reminder sent on December 18, are still pending.

JAC chairman Ashwani Kumar Munjal stated that contract workers have always advocated for a negotiated solution. He expressed hope that the PGIMER administration and the Chandigarh Administration will soon take positive steps to resolve the employees’ problems peacefully and ensure normal operations.